Journalism Major
The people have the right to know — and journalists make sure they do. As a journalism major, you'll make the events and issues of the world understandable to citizens by presenting information in compelling and accurate reports. From investigating to reporting, from layout to editing to storytelling for the Web, journalists ensure that the world knows what is happening.THE MARQUETTE Journalism Major
FOLLOW IN SOME BIG FOOTSTEPS. Marquette's journalism majors have gone on to become a New York Times columnist, a senior writer and weekly columnist for Sports Illustrated, and Pulitzer Prize-winning writers for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Seattle Times and Washington Post, as well as countless editors, writers, publishers and reporters.
Notable Marquette journalism majors
- Gail Collins, New York Times columnist
- Steve Rushin, author and former Sports Illustrator writer
- Joy Bennett, senior editor at Ebony magazine
- John Barron, publisher of the Chicago Sun-Times
- J. William Diederich, creator of The Weather Channel
BE A WORKING JOURNALIST. Through national and local internships, Marquette's journalism majors work with Newsday in New York; Associated Press in Washington, D.C.; Chicago Tribune; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; and Milwaukee's Catholic Herald. Marquette students also intern in Milwaukee radio and television station newsrooms.
LEARN DIGITAL STORYTELLING. Students learn the art of journalism using a range of digital media. Sharpen your skills by choosing to specialize in newspapers, magazine publications or visual communication, including photojournalism and video journalism.
THE ETHICS OF NEWS REPORTING. Our University Core of Common Studies will help you make sense of a broad range of news stories and prepare you to wrestle with the ethical dimensions of what to report and how to report it.
GET IN ON THE ACTION. Work and get paid for it at The Marquette Tribune, our award-winning, student-run, twice-weekly newspaper. Even as a freshman journalism major, you'll work on important stories, interview city administrators, review movies and shows, write editorials and cover Marquette and professional athletics.
You might like the journalism major if you are:
- A good writer and love language
- Interested in current events
- Alert, involved, inquisitive and energetic
What can you do with a major in journalism?
The strong writing, editing and critical thinking skills you'll develop as a journalism major will serve you well in any field, but most graduates go onto careers in newspapers, magazines, Web communication, publishing companies, communication professions in business and industry, public relations, or law or graduate studies. Learn more about what you can do with a major in journalism.
Visit the department that offers the journalism major.
Suggested curriculum for an journalism major
Your major courses are in blue.
Freshman
- Practicum in Student Publications
- Digital Journalism I
- Introduction to Communication
- Media in Society
- Rhetoric and Composition I
- Histories of Cultures and Societies or American History Elective
- Foreign Language or Diverse Cultures
- General Psychology or Principles of Sociology
Sophomore
- Introduction to Visual Communication
- Digital Journalism II
- Digital Journalism III
- Contemporary Presentation
- Introduction to Communication Research Methods
- Introduction to Anthropology
- Modern Elementary Statistics
- Science and Nature Elective
- Introduction to Economics
- American Politics
- Philosophy of Human Nature
Junior
- Journalism Theory/Research
- Publications Editing
- Journalism Writing Elective
- Journalism Design Course
- Mass Communication History Elective
- Introduction to Theology
- Theory of Ethics
- Anthropology, Psychology or Sociology Elective
- Minor/Elective Courses
- Literature or Performing Arts Elective
Senior
- Ethical Problems of Mass Media
- Media Law
- Two Journalism Writing Electives
- Capstone
- Theology Elective
- Minor/Electives Courses














